LOOKBACK

While Sony Music continues its work on a Girlfriend ‘Essentials’ collection album, we thought it about time to take a look back at the Aussie girl group’s debut single, which also happened to be their biggest. Released in 1992, the former Aussie No.1 single sounds like it could have been ripped straight from the soundtrack of E Street, with plenty of clunky beats, cheap synths and cheesy choroegraphy, but it also takes us back to a time that was a little less complicated and pop stars didn’t need to use sex to sell their tunes. So rewind with us… back to the days of those stupid coloured lens sunglasses, high-waisted denim, to when gerberas ruled the flower world and pop-clip millinery and when things were just a little more pure and simple.

Considering Girlfriend was signed to BMG in the 90’s, their catalogue shifted over to Sony when the merger took place and was retained when Sony shed the BMG in it’s name. Such issues with licencing should be sorted before the album is even listed to retailers then! The other issue is that Sony have not updated retailers on the delay, chaos still has it listed as released in Jan and available: http://chaos.com/product/girlfriend-essential/8053962-6644.html

If they want to capture momentum, they need to update fans on the situation because it will be the fans that buy it. They should also consider making it even better by adding a bonus dvd. They should refer to the online petition that has been active for many years: http://www.petitiononline.com/gfriend4/petition.html

To be fair to Sony, we understand that they’ve been up against licensing issues with a number of their ‘Essential’ releases, hence the delay.Given their history with these albums, we reckon they’ll also be looking for rarities and unreleased stuff, so for big fans such as yourself, it should very much be worth the wait.

It is quite confusing as to why a compile, originally set for release in November 2010, can be delayed ever so. The songs only need a remaster, the back catalogue is there and there’s no new material to be recorded for it, nor does it tie in with a reunion. The ‘Essential’ series booklets are thin at best so that can’t be holding it up. So what’s the delay Sony? Communicate with the consumers of your products, fans want this!